Monday, November 3, 2008

See the side of this page: I have a link to an article and its accompanying youtube video.

While at my physical therapist's place today, I picked up a "First" magazine dated 9/22/08 and, lo and behold, an article (on page 31) on this very topic was in it. I borrowed the magazine so I could type the concepts discussed into this blog. Here goes:

~One in three women is tired, heavy and blue as a result of a poorly funtioning thyroid. The cause: "Millions of women are unknowingly deficient in iodine", says Ann Haiden, D.O., an internist in Kentfield, California. "This mineral enables thyroid cells to synthesize the thyroid hormones that regulate cellular metabolism."

~So called "healthy choise" are contirbuting to the epidemic as wome cut their use of table salt (fortified with iodine) and consume more soy and cruciferous vegetables (which contain iodine flushing compounds) and eating more leafy salads (a source of the iodine-blocking toxin perchlorate).

~This means doctors are increasingly prescribing thyroid medication, but in many cases their patients could be cured simply by consuming more iodine.~Follow these iodine guidelines.For most women, aiming for the recommended daily allowance of 150 mcg of iodine will restore energy, says Dr. Haiden. She advises taking a multivitamin (most contain this dose) and eating iodine rich foods like eggs, unpeeled baked potatoes, shrimp, tuna and cod. Women who don't feel better within a month can supplement with 150 mcg of iodine daily. (One product is Now Kelp, $3 for 200 tablets, at iHerb.com)

~Boost absorption with Vitamin A. Vitamin A enhances the absorption of iodine and its ability to synthesize thyroid hormones, says Dr. Hayden. Sources include eggs, pork and turkey, as well as foods rich in carotenoids (which the body converts to Vitamin A) such as oranges, carrots, redpeppers, pumpkin, squash and yams.